Motorcyclist dies in Ogletown crash as traffic deaths surge in Delaware

A 34-year-old Newark motorcyclist has died following an evening crash May 5 in Ogletown, Delaware State Police said.

The motorcyclist’s name was withheld by police on May 6 until his family could be notified.

The Ogletown crash is one of six fatalities that have plagued officials across the state since May 4, according to the Delaware Department of Transportation. Officials added that between the night of May 5 into the morning of May 6, was the deadliest 12 hours on Delaware roads in nearly six years.  

“It’s certainly alarming to have more than 15% of our total fatalities to date this year happen over the past four days,” C.R. McLeod, a DelDOT spokesman, told Delaware Online/The News Journal.

Other fatal crashes that occurred in that 12-hour span include:

• A motorcycle crash in Stanton that left a 29-year-old Wilmington man dead when he ran a red light and his Harley-Davidson Sportster struck a Nissan Rogue at the Churchmans Road intersection with Center Pointe Plaza about 7:20 p.m. May 5, Delaware State Police said.
• A crash in Dover that killed a 26-year-old woman who struck a tree about 1 a.m. May 6, Dover police said.
• A 23-year-old Millsboro woman was killed when she failed to navigate a curve on Coastal Highway north of Lewes about 1:30 a.m. May 6, Delaware State Police said.

As of May 6, DelDOT was reporting 38 traffic fatalities on Delaware roads – a 27% jump from last year at the same time.

Ogletown crash

As the man was riding a Honda CBR east on Christiana Road toward Harmony Road, police said, an Audi Q5 was turning left from westbound Christiana Road into McIntosh Plaza.

For reasons still under investigation, the Honda struck the Audi’s passenger side about 6 p.m., police said. This caused the motorcyclist to be ejected.

The motorcyclist was taken to an area hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

The Audi’s driver, a 37-year-old Bear man, did not report any injuries, police said.

Troopers are asking anyone with information about the Ogletown crash to contact investigators at (302) 365-8483. Information may also be provided by sending a private Facebook message to the Delaware State Police or by contacting Delaware Crime Stoppers at (800) 847-3333.